New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-19
HOLIDAY PUBLICATIONS.
sOME ILLUSTRATED REPRINTS.


THE POLITICAL WORKS or SIR WALTER SCOTT.
E s,n.,r, nan S,s Ss2 Bossn: Teknor Is Co.
TIE AR8EYs AND CHURCHES OF ENGLAND AND
NAILS illustrated. PIP 2s0 Caasel x Co.
THE WIDE WIDE WORLD b, ELIZABETH wRTHER-
ELI WITH etehings by FRtrsRicK DIELMAs. Pr
ST. Philadelphia: J. r. Lppinrott Co.
rAIJsT THE LEGEND AND POEM By W. g. WALSH
With etchinss br HERMAN FABER PIP AZ. Phila-
dcphia: J. u. Iirpincott Co.
RIP VAN WRINKLE BY WASHINGTON IRVING. Illus
traisd by FRANK 7. MERRILL s. E Casino.
In the preface to this edition Of Scott's poems
Professor Rclfe calls attention again the errors
In previous editions lie has found cOrruptions
In the text OF all the editions of the last fifty
years, English American, and his criticisms in
clude the edition of Lockhsrt - who very rarely
corrected in SCOTS editions while he
allowed many slips made by his own printers to
pass undeteeted' Examples Of these cited
in the prefaees TO the Lady of the Lake" and
" Marmion," which were noted at the time OF pub
Hcation. In addition to a careful collation. OF
the text with that of the earliest editions OBJ
tanablc the punctuation has been revised. Scott
totes have been retained, but abridged, and there
Is a glossary containing the words explained by
Scott with some additions Professor Roife APP
pears to have performed delicate task with care
and coed judgment, and the result is OF decided
value Scotts love of natural scenery and the
has provided illustrators with wealth Of ma
tcrial which has been generously utilized in this
edition. There are $50 illustrations by various
artists, who place before US the figures, action,
architecture and landscapes Of the text with
usual fidelity and good taste. The purpose OF
these drawings has been rather the accurate
translation Of the text than the creative effort
which implies marked intervention of the art
lists personality and this purpose has been sue
&c sfIlv attained. There is some strong figure
work bv Mr. Frost with dcsi gns by Mcssrs. Frede-
ficks Garrett. ard others, all of which have
been drawn engraved and printed under the SUI
rcr,isi. II Of Mr. a. V. S. Anthony. Although the
impressions in some cases leave much to he de-
sired the pictorial features of this edition Will
be found a erviceablc and satisfactory part OF
q creditable undertaking.
"The Abheys and Churches Of England and
Wales is compilation of brief magazine arti-
clcs, illustrated with plates which, ON the whole,
Show excellent powers Of endurance. Parish
churches have received the larger share of atten-
ton and an attempt has been made to increase
the clement of human Interest," by selecting
chur hes associated with the illustrlouS dead
The articles are principally historical and DO
graz heal with less than the usual magazine "u-
mixture Of description and comment. Considering
the Immense literature Of the subject TINS COM
pigton will hardly I've found a valuable addl-
ton TO the existing stock Of knowledge. us re-
prcs NATION of information is seldom chalac-
,criz,d by grace Of manner or critical acuiaeh'
but il NAV lie found by some readers TO have
. better reason for existence than the desire 10
make the mrst # convenient material
1t his been suggested by a distinguished french
etchcr that etching might be made general
medium Of book and magazine illustration De
snitc the durability of steel faced. even cleo
trotyped plates. the drawbacks are evident as
any one can see from the two volumes before
rs which are illustrated with ctchlngS. Mr'
Fabcr the illustrator Of Mr.. WalshS study OF
Faust appears TO have suffered more from inc
printer than Mr. Dclman, but II should De au-
dcd that the lattcrs work in itself IS SUPERIOR
although positively speaking. il Is OF d.sappo'ht-
ing quality. Such soitncsS as the hcl'Ini
e.ycs affords little compensation for the absence
Of truth OF form and texture, and OF decision Oh
treatment. Mr. Delman is an uneven workman,
but he docs better than this when drawing Tor
The wood engraver His subject could hardly
have been inspiring for a new edition OF MISS
Warmers once famous novel possesses rather
historical and curious than vital interest, and
Mr. D.clmon is not TO he blamed If the TACT OF
half q million sales of the novel between $50
arl 1860 failed TO stimulate his ina gination Inc
dea,b e the author year and half since prooa-
bly, explains the appearance Of this edition MT
Nalsh's text in the accompanying volume Is ue-
cidodly mo-e valuable than the illustrations ouo
mis- explanations Of the Faust legend ana poem
will scarcely gain conspicuous place among 'le
voluminous Faust literature.
The inviting field offered in Irvings tlp van
Vinkle- has been so thoroughly worked over oy
various artists that there is little chance Tor new
discoveries but Mr. Frank T. Merrill has de-
sipncd series of illustrations which arc in ~ III
pathy with the text and OF consiheraoie ''cn-
meal merit Originality is hardly to DC expect
Cd. but the familiar figures with thcir li"hV
chances for the picturesque IN costumes arc
usually natural expressive, and sometimes ~
mar1,ablv apprecatiye illustrations OF the sprlU
If the text Mr. Merrill has made forty-thrce
non and ink and wash drawings, most oil INC
former appcaring as illustrations in the text
and the latter as fun page plates. Ihese h"Ne
been satisfactorily reproduced by the "u VI
rhotqg.aply. The frontisplece' portrait VI
Irving in middle life, is accompanied py i"o-
smile Of his autograph. The cover OF ouh i'cn'
hears the title in gold and print III sepi"
Of an Illustrative design. Inc pas
have generous allowance OF margin anu
the Typography is excellent. The DOCK ID 'i'u-
liable one and it is interesting Do'h d. S"eec
ing the advance in the quaitV oi inuS'i"'
since Darlcy's most active pcrloo' anu a" "
nishng another indication, although eNiu'n' "
hardly needed of the firm hold which irving
maintains upon the better class OF our rcaoihs
public
CHILDRENS BOOKS.
soNE OF TIE BEST OF THEIR KIND
q fha hnl liz